The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-11-05
A WEST POINT "PLEBE. !"
Annoyances to Which q Oandi-
date II Subjected.

First Experiences Of Life at the Famous
Military Academy = Rsporting - The
ssCemmittss Of Reception" Eta
A West Point correspondent contrib
utes the following spicy and graphic
account of life at the academy to the
Philadelphia Times:
Do you know what report meansP
Well. 1t usually signifies loud noise.
but when . candidate for military
laurels reports" at West Point he
makes very little noise. indeed. To ex-
plain. let me refer you to my own case.
Every reader of the Times is aware
that my name IL Hancock de Grant and
that record Of the same may be seen
in a recent register Of the United States
Military academy. 1t was in the
spring. the balmy spring, that received
my appointment conditionally ac-
cepted. a. q cadet at the National
academy. With what q pleasure 1
strobe the sylvan dells Of my Western
home; that large folded paper. bearing
the signature Of the Secretary of War.
In the coat pocket next to my heart
and the girl / loved best on the same
side. Ye gods! what bright pictures
Of the future arose, cheering at both
her and me. Who could tell but that
she. too, might some day be the bride
of great General. namely, myself
Hancock de- Grant,
At one moment the smoke of battle
filed the air and the roar Of artillery
drowned the babble of the pleasant
brook at our feet; the next moment /
unconsciously pressed her closer to my
bosom and dreamed Of cleaning sabers
clashing and changing in the greatest
battle Of the age, led by General Han
cock de Grant
The days sped by until. luckily. the
time for reporting was near. say
luckily. because IL the time had been
longer the lunatic asylum might have
claimed another recruit to its army Of
enthusiasts, and in that event / might
have Jared worse than actually did at
squad drills" and "yearling recep-
tons"
A faint rumor Of hazing and Of drills
had reached me in my far off Western
home, but the determin alton of Han
cock de Grant was that nothing should
deter him In his onward stride to fame.
Bidding all an affectionate adieu, trac-
ing kiss upon her lips and giving her
q pressing invitation to be present at
the next summers hops. of which ! had
heard 90 much, I boarded an Eastern
bound train. After long and dusty
ride West Point was reached
Ny appointment commissioned me
TO report at the adjutant's Office. nine
o'clock a. m, June. 188--. was
there on time The adjutant Of the
academy, . gentlemanly army officer,
was very courteous. found myself in
company with about two-score candi-
dates, others reporting during the sue
ceeding days Some had already re-
ported. We were dispatched with an
orderly Ian officers valet) to the
hospital. whre arigid physical examine
ton was undergone, most Of Us being
adjudged suitable for the service. Re
turning to headquarters the polite ad-
jutant babe the orderly escort ~ TO the
barracks and deliver us to the tender
care Of the cadet officers in charge Of
new cadetsI
You should have seen that motley
throng Of candidates. striplings from
every part of the Union, and stamped
with the peculiarities of their section Of
country. Some with darkened upper
lipA others mustacheless; some VICAR.
ing long-tailed coats, others bob-tailed
coats; some silk hats, others Texa,
sornbreros. and 20 ON in infinite variety
We were being lowed along. high hopes
burning. but not without An uneasinesl
q to the mysterious ways of the cadet.
We saw. What was that little GROUP
aheadf Oil they were cadeta Loci
at their broad shoulder. little waist,
and snowy trousers. Surely such gen
uemanly looking little fellows vii
treat " like brothers, ! thought Blu
won't pa and ma feel happy when I g
homo on vacation! / shall smile ap
provingly as l pass my soon-to-be com
radeA We were brushing past them
take your eyes of me. mister" (witl
= rising accent on tho s'mister.'
Whatl could they be 20 rudee
thought not, and hoped inwardly tina
all the cadets were not capable o
Affecting such savage look - did tn
young fellow who spoke
Seen The bazraoln was rsached. III